Hampton Inn Rochester Penfield

We had a good stay, and breakfast and the staff were both great. The lobby bar was a welcome surprise too, since we could get a drink after a long day without heading elsewhere. Our room was spacious, and the bed and linens were very comfortable. The bathroom had a roomy vanity with a raised shelf at the back, and the lighting worked well for shaving. I don't love the provided liquid soap, though I know a lot of chains use it now. The showerhead was a cheap Waterpik and felt out of place. The spray lacked pressure and focus on every setting, and changing settings was awkward. Even with the hotel full, it was mostly quiet. The problem was the plumbing stack behind our headboard. Whenever someone upstairs showered or flushed, it sounded like ice breaking and tumbling inside the wall, loud enough to wake us at night. We were on the second floor with several floors above us, so a top floor room might avoid that. The front lot is small, but there's a bigger one behind the building, with an entrance to the third floor near the elevator. Elevators could be slow, so taking the stairs for a single floor might be quicker depending on where your room is. There are a few outdoor seating spots: by the entrance under the overhang, outside the pool room on the first floor's left side, and at the back right when facing the rear entrance. They work well for a smoke or just to sit outside. The pool is small and only a few feet deep, while the hot tub in the same room may be more appealing. A nice stay overall, with those plumbing sounds and showerhead as the main drawbacks. Better showerheads would help.

The front desk staff were kind and helpful, and the room itself was very nice. I might have rated the stay four or even five stars if the security deposit had come back when promised. We checked out on the 1st, but it wasn't returned until Jan 11th. We were told to expect it within 72 hours. Ten days is far beyond that, and we only got it after calling to complain. That's a lot of money to keep from guests for so long. If getting your deposit back promptly matters, I'd avoid booking here.

We chose this place because it was convenient for the people we were visiting. The room was spacious, and I especially liked the bathroom shelf behind the sink, so our things didn't all have to sit on the counter. The room's downsides were hard to overlook. The bed was uncomfortable, and there wasn't enough lighting to read in the chair or work at the desk. Our room (206) looked out onto a concrete retaining wall, and we had no cell reception inside.

We came back for a second stay while dining through rochester. The staff were helpful and friendly, and the hotel was clean with everything working. They upgraded us to a bigger room, so we had plenty of space. Thanks!